Epic Camp Day 7 - Resiliency

Resilience.
This is one of the main physical and mental characteristics one needs to be successful at this sport.
You have to work through plateaus.
You have to train when injured sometimes(often for older athletes).
You have to train when sick sometimes.
You have to train when tired or crappy weather threatens to de-rail you.
You have to train when you just don't feel like it.
You have to do it consistently week after week, year after year.
This is what Cam Brown calls "backing it up".
And hopefully this is one of the main things people come to expect more of from themselves after Epic Camp.
This morning the crew saw young Clas rip a hilly 1/2 marathon to shreds after putting in a massive week previously. He did the same thing on Epic 2003 when we did a 1/2 Ironman in the middle of that camp and he did it again on the North Island in 2004 when he got second to Cam in a 1/2 IM in the middle of that camp.
This is why guys like Clas and Cam run 2:42 on hilly IM run courses. Because they "back it up" in training. Its a priveledge to be associated with people like that because their example of a stellar work ethic is so obvious for any one to see. They just put it right out there for all to see. You just have to turn up to see it week after week!

After the 1/2 marathon this morning we had a pastry run follwed by a ride of 60km. Most opted for the flattish route guided by the G-Man and Clas, Albert Boyce and I headed up another solid climb of nearly 7km out towards the Rai Valley (towards Blenheim) and back. The sun came out today and I had those rivers of sweat running down my legs on the climb. Always a good indication its pretty warm!
Then we had a nice sunny swim in the outdoor 50m pool again before dinner. The pool's beena bit cool here up until now. It will be sad to leave htis pool now that its warm!
Tomorrow is our longest day on the camp - around 11+ hours is my guess witha 240km ride to Westport tos tart the day. Its forecast to be into a slight southerly headwind so hopefully it won't be too bad or else we're looking at over 10 hours on the bike. Then a run and a swim. So I don't think I'll get a chance to get to a computer tomorrow.......